History

Nitehawk Cinema is New York’s premier dine-in theater, pairing exemplary first-run and repertory film programming along with tableside food and beverage service.

Every Nitehawk cinematic experience strives to enhance the audience’s viewing with a creative framework whether by creating a specialty menu with fresh, local house-made ingredients inspired by the films we love, a live band accompaniment or special guest Q&As. Unique Signature Series programming includes LIVE SOUND CINEMA, Music Driven, Local Color, Art Seen, Film Feasts, Booze & Books, Country Brunchin’, Nitehawk Naughties, Nitehawk Nasties, highlighting a wide and diverse range of film spanning from rare 35mm prints to new independent films. Special programming for weekend brunches and midnites can also be experienced each month. Each film also begins with a tailored thirty-minute “pre-show” filled with content inspired by the film.

In 2011, Nitehawk overturned a prohibition-era state liquor law banning alcohol in theaters, becoming the first dine-in theater to open in New York. Located at 136 Metropolitan Avenue at Berry Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Nitehawk is a triplex, hosting 92-, 60- and 34-seat theaters. Lo-Res, Nitehawk’s downstairs bar, offers full-service food and drink, and outdoor seating during the warmer months, featuring handcrafted cocktails, local brews and distillers.

We Changed the Law…

Setting a historical precedent, Nitehawk Cinema is single-handedly responsible for the groundbreaking overturn of the prohibition-era New York State liquor law that made serving alcohol in motion picture theaters illegal. Nitehawk celebrated Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing the new law allowing moviegoers to enjoy an adult beverage at their theater seats a mere three months after the Cinema’s opening date. And thus, a new era of boozy film viewing in Brooklyn (and beyond) began!

How Things Work at Nitehawk

During this thirty-minute period we feature our signature Pre-show and provide guests with ample time to get settled in their seats and place food or drink orders directly with the theater servers. Servers will check for your ticket so please hold onto your tickets and have them readily available at your seat. Seating is first come, first serve, so we recommend arriving about 45 minutes prior to each showtime. Early guests can also enjoy a drink at our lobby bar before we seat the theater.

At Nitehawk you can order food and beverages throughout feature presentation by using our basic flag system. You’ll find paper and pencil at each table to write down any orders – simply write down your order and post it up in front of you. A server will come by and pick up your order! Towards the end of the filmyour server will come by to see if you need anything else, drop off your tab, and take care of payment before the credits roll. Our service staff is pretty awesome so please remember to tip early and often!

Nitehawk Policies

Nitehawk is an 18+ theater, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For the sanity of our staff and fellow patrons, we insist there is no talking or texting during our films. Nitehawk reserves the right to ask you to leave the screening without refund if you continue to disturb others.

No reserve seating. Seating is on a first-come/first-serve basis, however you are welcome to save up to 4 seats (including your own), as long as you possess up to 4 tickets (including your own).

For kid friendly screenings, there must be at least one adult with up to 3 children.

It is a well advertised policy that tickets, once purchased, are not eligible for refund or exchange. In special circumstances, we do offer general admission passes instead of refunds, good Monday-Thursday for a film that has played for at least a week (except holidays and special events).

On Thursday, November 3, our music-in-film series, Music Driven, invited the great filmmaker Penelope Spheeris to the theater to talk her breakthrough documentary: The Decline of Western Civilization. More Info